Solid Oral Dose Form Imprinting Characteristics


  • Color (SPLCOLOR)
    • A single value or a list of multiple coded values, specifying one or more distinct colors that approximate of the color(s) of distinct areas of the solid dosage form, such as the different sides of a tablet or one-part capsule, or the different halves of a two-part capsule.
    • Imprints on the dosage form, regardless of their color, are not considered when assigning an SPLCOLOR.
    • Bands on banded capsules, regardless of their color, are not considered when assigning an SPLCOLOR.
    • If more than one color exists on a particular side or half, then the most predominant color on that side or half is recorded.
    • If the gelatin capsule shell is colorless and transparent, use the predominant color of the contents that appears through the colorless and transparent capsule shell.
  • Shape (SPLSHAPE)
    • A characteristic of an oral solid dosage form of a medicinal product, specifying the two dimensional representation of the solid dose form, in terms of the outside perimeter of a solid dosage form when the dosage form, resting on a flat surface, is viewed from directly above, including slight rounding of corners.
    • SPLSHAPE does not include embossing, scoring, debossing, or internal cut-outs.
    • SPLSHAPE is independent of the orientation of the imprint and logo.
    • <Insert reference here to the SPLSHAPE of a capsule>
  • Size (SPLSIZE)
    • A characteristic of an oral solid dosage form of a medicinal product, specifying the longest single dimension of the solid dosage form as a physical quantity in the dimension of length (e.g., 3 mm).
    • The length is always in millimeters and should be rounded to the nearest whole millimeter.
    • SPLSIZE for a rectangular shaped tablet is the length and SPLSIZE for a round shaped tablet is the diameter.
  • Coating
    • A characteristic of an oral solid dosage form of a medicinal product, indicating whether it has one or more coatings, such as sugar coating, film coating, or enteric coating.
    • Only coatings to the external surface or the dosage form should be considered (for example, coatings to individual pellets or granules inside a capsule or tablet are excluded from consideration).
  • Scoring
    A characteristic of an oral solid dosage form of a medicinal product, specifying the number of equal pieces that the solid dosage form can be divided into using score line(s).
  • Symbol
    • A characteristic of an oral solid dosage form of a medicinal product to describe whether or not the medicinal product has a mark or symbol appearing on it for easy and definite recognition.
    • Score lines, letters, numbers, and internal and external cut-outs are not considered marks or symbols. .
  • Imprint Code
    To record text, begin on either side or part of the dosage form. Start at the top left and progress as one would normally read a book. Enter a semicolon to show separation between words or line divisions.